Date Night

My husband's Birthday was Wednesday. I took him out to dinner tonight to the coolest little French restaurant in an old historical building in a downtown area by a river. There was a live jazz band and the food was so delicious! We always enjoy trying out a new restaurant, but we don't have many opportunities here in Northwest Ohio. Finding this gem was a treat and we definitely plan to go back.

This is my attempt at date night dressing at almost 39 weeks pregnant. Oh the stares I got on my large humongous belly. However, while the staring can be uncomfortable, there are also benefits to being this hugely pregnant. Women were so kind to me. Every woman exclaimed how cute I looked (women never compliment the way I look when I'm not pregnant), even an older woman with a cane offered her seat while we were waiting for our table, and our waitress didn't even blink when she kept having to clear the table of my empty plates. A girl with this size belly must need to eat a lot, right? 

Top - Express, Jeans are Old Navy Maternity, Wedge shoes are Michael Antonio, earrings are gifted

Stripes and Sneakers

 

 

I wore this on Saturday to do a little garage saling and watch the game at my in-law's.

 

Now that I have three weeks left till my due date, I'm starting to not just count days, but hours! I am definitely getting pretty antsy. I was pretty calm at this point with the last one, but this time around I'm just anxious to be done. I need to fill up my days with a lot to do so I keep distracted.

 

Top - Express - hand-me-down

Jeans - Gap Maternity - $8

Converse sneakers - DSW - $22

 



Jeans and Stripes

Playing around with a new app for photo editing and laughing at myself about it.

 

 

 

I had to get the kids in the picture today since we all inadvertently dressed in stripes and jeans today!

 

 

 

I dreamed the other night that my labor only lasted two hours, I was three weeks early, and the baby was a boy instead of a girl. Best yet, my stomach was almost flat by the time I left the hospital. It was a good dream. Grateful for one good pregnancy dream instead of the usual ones that plague my nights.

 

Top - H&M - $3

Jeans - Goodwill - $2.50

Wedge sandals - JCPenney - $8

Necklace - eBay - gifted

Housework in Pink Heels

I wore this on Monday, even though all I had planned for that day was packing (another trip coming up), laundry, cleaning the refrigerator (yes, I actually cleaned my entire refrigerator and it looks spotless if I do say so myself), working on lesson plans, cleaning my oven, ironing, and getting the first coat of background paint on a 6x4 foot piece of plywood (I will explain that more later). I do this every once in a while--dress up on days when I should be wearing paint clothes. The heels came off for the cleaning part of my day, and I'll put them back on later right before the hubby gets home. He'll like that.

Sometimes you just have to let the girlishness overtake you and dress up when it's impractical.

So this plywood I'm painting is going to be a life sized painting of George and Martha Washington with the faces cut out so that people can stand behind it and get their pictures taken as the United State's first, First couple at a fair booth I'm volunteering at. The booth is going to have a Founding Fathers theme, so this photo prop seemed appropriate and is sure to catch people's attention. If the painting comes out halfway decent, I'll post a picture. If you never see it on this blog, you'll know I bombed.

Top - Ann Taylor LOFT - $4.88

Jeans - Old Navy Maternity - hand-me-down

Pumps - Target - $9

Necklace - thrifted for $2

Travelin' Woman

 Headed out on another road trip. We only got back from DC a couple of weeks ago, so I feel like this is becoming a regular thing. I usually enjoy traveling, so hopefully we'll have another successful trip and I'll keep saying this is fun.

 

Top - J.Jill - thrifted for $3

Jeans - Old Navy Maternity - hand-me-down

Flip flops - Target - $3

Another Cool Summer Day

What is wrong with this summer here in Ohio? It hasn't even hit 70 degrees yet today! I had to put the kids in fleeces when we went out for appointments and errands. I'm trying to tell myself that we'll have plenty of hot days ahead, but I doubt I'll be looking forward to Fall with how short this season will be.

 

Top - Ann Taylor LOFT - hand-me-down

Necklace - borrowed

Jeans - Old Navy Maternity - hand-me-down

Wedges - Michael Antonio - $9



White Maternity Jeans

I was trying to wait till I had no other option before I pulled out my maternity clothes, but it seems as if the need for comfort has overcome my pride. These are Gap jeans I picked up on their off-season at Gap for my last pregnancy. I only ended up wearing them a handful of times for that pregnancy, so hopefully I will get some more wear out of them this time around.

 

Top - Ann Taylor LOFT - $4.88

Jeans - Gap Maternity - $7

Espadrilles - Target - $8

Necklace - Charlotte Russe - $8.50

Watch - Bulova - gifted

Lady In Waiting - 41 Weeks Today!

I've now had 4 episodes of what I like to call false labor. I call it false labor because I get contractions, shakes, nausea (and other things that I won't mention on here) for several hours. The contractions come 2 to 5 minutes apart and are very consistent. One was when I was almost 38 weeks for just two hours, another at 39 for about two hours again. My last two episodes were this week. One two nights ago for 6 hours and last night it lasted all night long and to the point where they got longer and closer together as the night wore on. Thankfully, I know enough about labor from my first (even though it was pitocin induced two weeks early and ended in a c-section),  that I didn't call my midwife yet on each of these occasions. Two nights ago, however, I thought that since I was this far along, something might actually happen and I called my Mom. We both agreed that even if it was another false labor episode, it would be nice to have Mom around to distract me and be ready for when labor actually does come. So she made the three hour drive out with my 11 year old brother late on Saturday night (got here a little after midnight), and has been doting on me ever since! I LOVE my Mom!

So even though last night was rough, and I'm now feeling too sore and exhausted for real labor to happen anytime soon, at least I get my Mom and little brother around to have fun with! I have my midwife appointment today and then we'll get some shopping done afterwards.

Outfit Post: Black and White

Still hanging on! I have a very bad cold, though, so now I'm hoping the baby stays put until I can bring her into a healthy environment. And I'd hate to have to labor while I'm coughing, sneezing, and so congested I can't breathe!

Top - Target - $6
Jacket - Hydraulic- gifted
Maternity jeans - Gap Maternity - $5
Black leather espadrilles - DSW - $9
Shell earrings - Target - $1

Outfit Post: Wearing Red

Red striped top - Motherhood - hand-me-down
Vest - thrifted - $2
Jeans - Old Navy Maternity - $25
Red peeptoe pumps - Aerosoles - $29
Red patent belt - Target - $3

Countdown: Four Days Till Due Date

Outfit Post: 5 Days till Due Date

Me all trying to be a diva! ha ha!

Feeling large, but feeling great!

Top - Kohl's - $17
Jeans - Gap - $7
Shoes - Macy's - $23
Earrings - Target - $1
Silk scarf - it's the sash from my J.Crew Lyndsey dress

Outfit Post: Wearing Green

Others may think it is tacky to wear green on St. Patrick's Day, but I think it is fun! St. Patrick's Day is also my brother's Birthday, and it's almost in honor of him that I proudly wear green.

I've been waiting for a warm enough day to pull out my new straw hat. I got it during a winter clearance sale, when of course nobody wanted to buy a straw hat - and now I finally get to wear it because it's supposed to get up to the mid sixties today! I'm so excited about warmer weather!

Hat - Old Navy - $.97
Tank - JCPenney - $3
Jeans - Old Navy Maternity - $25
Espadrilles - Target - $6
Earrings - Target - gifted

Outfit Post: Red Eyes

I have no idea what is wrong with my camera today, or what I did wrong in taking these pictures, but no matter what I tried, each photo ended up with red eyes. ARGH!

This top was given to me by my husband's aunt who picked it up in Mexico. She bought it for me when I was pregnant with my first, thinking it would be the perfect pregnancy top. Since I was pregnant through the fall/winter both times, I really haven't worn it until now. It's supposed to get up to 55 degrees, so I'm hoping I can get away with it. I added the scarf which I belted to give me some extra warmth and coverage (the top is somewhat see through).

Now that I see it in the pictures, I realize it is not very flattering. I look huge! But it is so romantic, and I feel pretty in it, as long as I don't see the pictures...so I plan on wearing it no matter what.

Top - gifted
Belt - Gap - $24
Scarf - Target - $6
Jeans - Old Navy Maternity -$25
Espadrilles - Target - $6
Earrings - F21 - gifted

Outfit Post: Is it spring yet?

Am I breaking the rules by wearing white when it is still 44 degrees outside? At least the snow is melted. That is what I'm telling myself. I just have to get some wear out of these jeans before it's too late!

Tunic - Gap - $6
Jeans - Gap Maternity - $5
Red pumps - Aerosoles - $29
Necklace - thrifted - $.25

Outfit Post: Black and red stripes

Two and a half weeks to go - but whose counting?

Top - Motherhood - hand-me-down
Necklace - F21 - gifted
Jacket - Jones New York (thrifted) - $3
Jeans - Gap Maternity - $7
Red suede pumps - Aerosoles - $29
Hoop earrings - Premier Jewelry - $21

Outfit Post: Mustard and Berry

Finally an outfit post! I'm running out of items in my closet that fit, so I was glad to have some product reviews to do so I could re-wear some of my previous outfits this week.
I found this great pair of pom-pom flats in a size larger than I normally wear to accommodate for my swollen feet, and am so happy to have something cheery to wear that fits and is comfortable!
With how cold it has been, I was also happy to find this warm knit scarf in a color that will be great for this coming fall.
I found some white Gap Maternity jeans for only $6 and am hoping I will have one spring-like day before the baby comes so I can pull them out with some espadrilles and maybe a striped top. Here's to wishing...

Jacket - F21 - gifted
Scarf - Target - $3
Jeans - Gap Maternity - $7
Top - Kohl's - $7
Mustard hoop earrings - B.B. Peppers - $.50
Pom-pom flats - Old Navy - $3

Outfit Post: Gray Day

This is a slow week for me. Not much going on, and no important chores or errands to run. I'm hoping to take advantage of the time and get some sewing done for the baby, but I feel like just laying on the couch all day. After having a week of almost no morning sickness, it seems to be threatening to come back this week, and I'm losing my energy as well. I guess my body is just getting ready for the big day by getting as much rest as possible now.

Top - H&M - $5

Jacket - F21 - gifted

Jeans - Gap Maternity - $7

Clogs - Macy's - $23

Outfit Post: New Necklace

My new necklace that my sister-in-law found at an antique mall for my Birthday...I just love it!
A well meaning lady asked me how far along I was today. I told her I had 5 weeks left and she said, "Oh my honey! That means you are not even as big as you are going to be...you are going to be huge!" Yeah...thanks.
Top - Ann Taylor - $5.88
Jeans - Old Navy Maternity - $25.50
Necklace - vintage - gifted
Metallic flats - Ann Taylor Loft - $3.88

Outfit Post: 6 more weeks...

6 more weeks sounds like a long time to me, but I know in the end I will look back and say it went fast. I'm realizing there are a few things I have yet to do - like buy diapers, a few more clothes, and get the cradle in our bedroom set up for those first few weeks with the baby.
My resolve to wear flats is going down the drain since my feet are now too swollen to fit into my flats. I'm wearing tennis shoes or slippers unless I'm at church or going out - and yes, I'm in heels. So far, I haven't lost my balance and they have been fine - but it's probably because I'm mostly at home in my slippers anyway. These boots are getting tighter and tighter, though, so I don't know what I'll do in a couple of weeks!

Top - Simply Vera Vera Wang - hand-me-down

Jacket - Target - $7

Jeans - Gap Maternity - $7

Boots - Jessica Simpson - courtesy of eBay

Necklace - F21 - gifted

Hoop earrings - Premier Jewelry - $21